Your greedy hoarding will ultimately leave you all alone.
Black Creek Reign has been a fixture in Toronto’s music scene for over eight years, first making their mark at NXNE 2016 and maintaining a steady presence ever since.
The band masterfully fuses their Caribbean heritage with rock, reggae, and soca, using their unique sound to address pressing social issues like greed and oppression. True to themselves, their music, and their message at all times, Black Creek Reign continues to use their releases as vehicles for change, something that’s made their releases resonate with listeners everywhere.
As 2024 turns to 2025, Black Creek Reign’s live performances are poised to keep the conversation going, bringing their high-energy, socially conscious shows to stages across the Greater Toronto Area. Following the success of their March single, “Wall Street,” which racked up nearly 40,000 streams, their new release, “King of Nothing,” continues their streak of conscious releases by tackling the societal obsession with hoarding riches and its hollow rewards.
In many ways, “King of Nothing” feels like a quintessential Black Creek Reign Release. In essence, “King of Nothing” feels like a searing commentary on the empty pursuit of wealth, framed by Black Creek Reign’s irresistible blend of reggae-rock and Caribbean rhythms.
“This is what you asked for, baby/everything is dead / it’s all your fault,” they sing, crowning the greedy as “Kings of Nothing” when all is said and done. With income inequality, affordable housing, and the like causing terrible pressure for people today, “King of Nothing” is a timely message that will resonate with listeners today.
Known for their thought-provoking lyrics and gritty power chords, Black Creek Reign continues to strip down the illusions of success tied to materialism, one release at a time. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream “King Of Nothing,” which is now available on all major streaming platforms.
We loved your release “King of Nothing.” it feels like in today’s economic climate, your message resonates more than ever! We wanted to ask how you usually determine the commentary you want your releases to have and how you work that into your creative process.
Hi Buzz, Darren & Logun from Black Creek Reign here. Happy to be back; thanks for the kind words! Our creative process is not too complicated; we just ask ourselves, "What are we upset about?" and "What do we feel NEEDS speaking about?"
We start jotting down lyrics, jamming over melodies and chord progressions, or just exchanging personal anecdotes about the issues we personally face. Inspiration is all around, from our everyday jobs to our inner wants and needs to be creative. The climate has forced us to call for change, and we realize that music is our vessel. Many issues affect the general public today, especially the young adults of the nation.
We can't afford homes like previous generations, while rent continues to skyrocket as we attempt to save. Groceries seemingly have never been more expensive, and even a minor fender bender appears as if it could cripple you financially for months. On the other side of the coin, we're seeing the 1% purchase their 3rd yacht. Celebrities take 15-minute trips on private jets, or worse yet...gigantic entities buying dozens of homes at a time. To do what?
Simply flip them for quick profit or rent at previously mentioned outrageous prices. It's an era where you're made to feel that you need to monetize everything you do. Hobbies? Sell what you're crafting on Etsy. Reading?
Join Twitch and read it out loud to subscribers. Sports? Make tutorials for YouTube. We are on the ground floor with our audience, and we want to drive home relatability and honesty more than anything. We're struggling just like you, and we hope that as we aim to be as vulnerable as possible, it encourages our listeners to do the same.
What inspired you to take that initial step to pursue music seriously, and what motivates you to make music now?
Growing up, music was always a part of my life, but it wasn’t until I had a teacher who really believed in me and pushed me beyond what I thought was possible. It was then that I realized music could be more than just a hobby. That experience helped me decide to pursue music seriously. Furthermore, I took a 4th-year university project that required me to write and record my own original music.
It was an introduction to the music industry, and I felt so thrilled to actually have my own product in my hands. I sent it around to friends and family, and the praise was unanimous (which, admittedly, if you're showing friends and family, may not be the world's greatest achievement). However, I put the music on SoundCloud, and with the help of an advertising contest win (that allowed me to get a ton of exposure), I heard unbiased opinions on my music from all over the world. I started to realize that what I was doing could actually grow into something special and real.
Now, the motivation comes from connecting with people—sharing stories, emotions, and experiences through music. It’s a powerful way to reach others, and as long as I can be a part of something that makes someone feel something real, that's what keeps me going.
What’s your fondest music-related memory?
Around 4-5 years or so, I’d say. We were booked to play “The East Coast Music Festival”….in Toronto (we're as confused as you are). The whole show was poorly organized, and one band straight up didn’t show up. To make matters worse, we were given an awkward time slot to play on a Thursday night.
In protest, we just stayed on stage indefinitely. We were fed up with the inconsistency of the night, the lack of transparency, and the lack of pay. So, in true rockstar form, a 40-minute set turned into 50, then 60, then 70….we simply refused to stop playing.
The crowd was white hot, too; there were some international travelers from both The Netherlands and Mexico who kept cheering us on. Needless to say, we ran through our ENTIRE catalog on both originals and covers and about 85 minutes later, we finally left the stage. What a time it was, and easily one of our fondest music memories.
As for Logun, his fondest music-related memory for him was as a kid. He'd be sitting in the backseat of his dad's car while blasting 80s music at night, speeding down a stretch of road next to a beach in Trinidad.
What would you want it to be if your fans could take one thing away from your music?
We’d want them to take away the message that it’s okay to question the systems we live in, to challenge what doesn’t feel right, and to stand up for each other. Whether it’s about wealth inequality, oppression, or just the everyday struggles of life, our music is about giving a voice to the voiceless and finding strength in unity.
We want to take our fans on a journey of consciousness, along with that element of entertainment. Having an escape is something we all need in life! We want them to realize the strength in vulnerability and the power of the truth. We hope our music helps people feel understood and inspired to create positive change, no matter how big or small.
What’s next for Black Creek Reign, and is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?
We’ve got a lot in store for the future! Besides promoting “King of Nothing,” we’re excited about upcoming shows in 2024 and more song releases in 2025. We’re working on more songs that dig deep into the issues that matter to us and our community, and we can’t wait to bring those to life on stage.
To our fans and friends, we just want to say thank you for being with us on this journey. Your support means everything; we can’t wait to keep growing and evolving with you. Keep listening, keep sharing, and we’ll see you at the next show!
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